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What is the best wireless channel to use ?

WiFi networks often suffer from interference from other wireless networks in the area, cordless phones, EMI/RFI interference from power supplies/routers/modems, etc.

Even though some wireless routers/access points can be configured to automatically choose the best channel, their algorithms can be obscure, the majority simply default to channel 6, and it is a good idea to survey your site and manually pick the best channel to use.

Since wireless channels generally overlap (as explained in more detail here), you should find other networks in range and what channels they operate in.

Under Windows Vista/7/2008, the default GUI wireless network list does not display the channels access points use. To find the channels, you have to do the following:

1. Navigate to Start > Run, type: cmd to enter command prompt
2. Type: netsh wlan show all
2a. Alternatively, type: netsh wlan show networks mode=bssid

This will display a list of all wireless networks in range, along with the network channel, signal strength, and security type used.

Ideally, you should pick a channel that is at least 3 channels apart from those used by other networks in the area.

Once you identify good non-overlapping channels, you can actually set your access point and monitor/compare the signal at one of your distant client devices. This can help in final fine-tuning for the best possible signal, as some channels may experience interference from other sources that are not detected as neighboring networks.

Notes:
The only completely non-overlapping 2.4GHz wireless network channels in the U.S. are 1, 6 and 11.
Most routers are preconfigured to use channel 6 by default, so you may want to avoid it.
You should try to keep your wireless router away from Cable/DSL modems, power supplies, and other possible sources of electromagnetic interference (EMI).


  User Reviews/Comments:
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by anonymous - 2013-12-02 13:51
thanks! exactly the advice needed!
by anonymous - 2013-12-21 12:13
thanks man
by anonymous - 2014-01-08 11:32
The best. Most of them tell you to down load this or that. But this is more reliable and simple. Good job.
by anonymous - 2014-03-21 05:18
Thanks guru
by RO - 2014-06-20 16:33
When I type wlan it says command not found I try the show all command same response tried the rest of the commands listed same answer
by anonymous - 2014-06-30 11:50
Worked great, thanks. To the point and easy to follow instructions.
by anonymous - 2015-01-16 12:11
Thanks! Worked my way through the channels and ran the Speakeasy speed test each time until I found the sweet spot.
by anonymous - 2015-06-14 14:26
you have to type all of it at once
by stateG - 2015-07-25 16:35
thank you so much, I will experiment, I am in Europe and currently using a sky hub, by the way if you dont know of this. Its not great. Less than 700kbps at the moment! Hubs are not the best. Routers are better. If you can give me some advice on optimizing hub connections email me at gam0logytec@gmail.com. thanks for advice!
by kaziel - 2015-09-09 15:32
Excellent information I need that.. Thanks
by Vibhor Gulati - 2016-08-07 14:23
This was a much needed advice. I did check cmd>netsh wlan show all and found almost all WiFi's nearby were on Channel 6. Now i have changed mine to channel 4.

Thanks,
Vibhor
by anonymous - 2016-12-01 14:52
FYI - you are still going to be getting interferrence from chan 6, until you are all the way to channel 1 or channel 11 due to overlap.
by anonymous - 2018-11-10 06:04
Big thanks for help .
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